The '''unaired ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' pilot''' is a thirty-minute production never intended to air, but used by 20th Century Fox to sell the ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' television show to a network in 1996. It was written and directed by [[Joss Whedon]].

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The '''''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' pilot''' is a thirty-minute production never intended to air, but used by [[20th Century Fox]] to sell the ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' television show to a network in 1996. It was written and directed by [[Joss Whedon]].

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==Synopsis==

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==Summary==

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A tough, juvenile-delinquent-type guy named [[Chris Boal]] breaks a window and sneaks into a high school at night, leading by the hand a timid, shy, pretty blonde girl (who would in the series come to be known as [[Darla]]). He takes her to the darkened, secluded auditorium in Berryman High School (theoriginal name for what was later called [[Sunnydale High]]). The girl seems nervous, with the guy reassuring her. They start to make out, until the girl becomes frightened and seeks aid from the guy,who assures her that they're alone. He approaches her, almost menacingly, but then she morphs into a vampire and bites his neck.

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[[Chris Boal|A tough guy]] breaks a window and sneaks into a high school at night, leading [[Darla|a girl]]by the hand. He takes her to the darkened, secluded auditorium in [[Sunnydale High School|BerrymanHighSchool]]. They start to make out, until she becomes frightened,buthe assures her that they're alone. He approaches her, but then she morphs into her[[vampire]] face and bites his neck.

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Then, it is a new school day and [[Buffy Summers|Buffy]] is being shown around her [[Sunnydale High School|new school]] by [[Robert Flutie|Principal Flutie]]. As he does so, he calls her by different names, none of which are her own.

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In the next morning, it is a new school day and [[Buffy Summers|Buffy]] is being shown around her new school by Principal [[Robert Flutie|Flutie]]. As he does so, he calls her by different names, none of which are her own. Buffy assures Flutie that there won't be any problems like at her old school and she is "Here to have fun. But I mean learning, fun with learning." Flutie tells Buffy not to worry, he thinks she will fit in just fine.

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Buffy assures Flutie that there won't be any problems like at her old school and she is "Here to have fun. But I mean learning, fun with learning." Flutie tells Buffy not to worry, he thinks she will fit in just fine. Meanwhile, a gawky guy and an overweight girl (later to be known as [[Alexander Harris|Xander]] and [[Willow Rosenberg|Willow]]) talk, and he asks her to help him with his homework and Willow agrees after being promised the reward of a shiny nickel. A jock asks a fashionable, pretty but mean girl (later known as [[Cordelia Chase]], and accompanied by two lackeys later known as [[Harmony Kendall|Harmony]] and Cordette) out to [[the Bronze]] and she declines him. Her ditzy blonde companion, Harmony, confirms that they're still going. Cordelia asks who is playing that night and Harmony tells her it's [[Dingoes Ate My Baby]]. Cordelia surveys the group of her fellow students and mocks them one by one, until Xander interrupts. Cordelia ridicules him and leave, just as Buffy, looking through her bag and not paying attention to where she is going, bumps into Xander, causing her to drop her things. She gathers what she has dropped as Xander apologizes, and she asks him where the library is. He helps her out but when she leaves, he discovers she has forgotten the sharpened wooden stake she'd been carrying. The library is deserted and Buffy attempts to leave, but bumps into [[Rupert Giles|Giles]]. He recognizes her instantly. She starts to ask him for some school books she needs, but Giles cuts her short and says he has what's she is looking for, and places a large, ancient book in front of her entitled [[Vampyr|''Vampyr'']]. Disturbed, Buffy tells Giles that's not whats she's looking for and hurries out, leaving a confused Giles behind.

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Meanwhile, [[Alexander Harris|Xander]] and [[Willow Rosenberg|Willow]] talk, and he asks her to help him with his homework; Willow agrees after being promised the reward of a shiny nickel. A jock asks [[Cordelia Chase|Cordelia]] out to the [[Bronze]] and she declines him. Her companion, [[Harmony Kendall|Harmony]], confirms that they're still going. Cordelia asks who is playing that night and Harmony tells her it's [[Dingoes Ate My Baby]]. Cordelia surveys the group of her fellow students and mocks them one by one, until Xander interrupts. Cordelia ridicules him and leave, just as Buffy, looking through her bag and not paying attention to where she is going, bumps into Xander, causing her to drop her things. She gathers what she has dropped as Xander apologizes, and she asks him where the library is. He helps her out but when she leaves, he notices she has forgotten a sharpened wooden stake.

The library is deserted and Buffy turns to leave, but bumps into [[Rupert Giles|Giles]].Shestarts to ask him for some school booksshe needs, but Giles cuts her short and says he has what's she is looking for, and places a large book in front of her entitled ''[[Vampyr]]''. Disturbed, Buffy tells Giles that's not whats she's looking for and hurries out, leaving a confused Giles behind. Buffy goes to class, but instead of paying attention, seems troubled by what had happened in the library.

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Buffy goes to class, but instead of paying attention, seems troubled by what had happened in the Library. The bell rings and Willow introduces herself to Buffy, offering, by request of Mr. Barns, that she help Buffy get caught up. Willow is a bit unsure of herself when talking to Buffy but Buffy accepts her offer. While walking with Willow, Buffy asks about Giles. Willow tells her that he started a couple weeks ago, but before she can get too into detail about him, Cordelia, Harmony and Cordette appear before them. Cordelia introduces herself as the welcoming committee and maneuvers Buffy away from Willow to join Cordyandher friends. The scene then shifts to [[Aphrodesia]] and [[Aura]] talking about Buffy in the girls' locker room. As Aphrodesia rants on about how Buffy got kicked out of her old school due to some kind of delinquent behavior, the body of the boy Darla killed atthebeginning falls out of her locker onto Aphrodesia, making her go into a screaming fit.

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The bell rings and Willow introduces herself to Buffy, offering, by request of Mr. Barnes, that she help Buffy get caught up. Willow is a bit unsure of herself when talking to Buffy but Buffy accepts her offer. While walking with Willow, Buffy asks about Giles. Willow tells her that he started a couple weeks ago, when Cordelia, Harmony and [[Unidentified Cordette (The Wish)|a Cordette]] appear before them. Cordelia introduces herself as the welcoming committee and maneuvers Buffy away from Willow to join hergroupof friends. Meanwhile, [[Aphrodesia]] and [[Aura (Sunnydale)|Aura]] talk about Buffy in the girls' locker room. As Aphrodesia rants on about how Buffy got kicked out of her old school due to some kind of delinquent behavior, the body of the boy killed thepreviousnight falls out of her locker onto Aphrodesia, making her go into a screaming fit.

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Meanwhile, Xander returns Buffy's stake and gives her a tour of the school and the cliques in it. Willow finds them and tells them about the dead boy, causing Buffy to run off and find Principal Flutie. The rattled principal apologies for such events on her first day of school and asks if there's anything he can do. Buffy asks to see the body and when she sees two holes in the neck, she heads for the library. Giles is not surprised by the news, but he is surprised that Buffy wants nothing to do with being a Slayer. She explains that being the Slayer is why she lost everything she valued. Xander overhears the conversation.

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Xander finds Buffy to return her stake and gives her a tour of the school and its cliques. Willow finds them and tells them about the dead body, causing Buffy to run off and find Principal Flutie. The rattled principal apologies for such events on her first day of school and asks if there's anything he can do, so Buffy asks to see the body.She sees two holes in the neck and she heads for the library. Giles is not surprised by the news, but instead that Buffy wants nothing to do with being a Slayer. She explains that being the Slayer is why she lost everything she valued. Xander overhears the conversation.

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That night, Buffy meets Xander outside the Bronze and he tells her that Willow isn't there because she's at school with a new boyfriend. Buffy is suspicious and asks a lot of questions about this new boyfriend's appearance and when Xander mentions that he has a long-out-of-style "Lionel Richie" look, she runs off and Xander follows. Meanwhile, Willow is shyly hanging out with a blond guy. She tells him that she is still a little troubled about the dead guy, but he says that he got what he deserved for being alone in a secluded place with someone he barely knew. Willow is disturbed as that is the exact situation she is in, and she turns to see that the blond guy has transformedhimselfandisactually a [[vampire]]. He grabs her and bites her neck. Meanwhile, Buffy and Xander have arrived at the school and they follow Willow's screams.

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That night, Buffy meets Xander outside the Bronze and he tells her that Willow isn't there because she's at school with a new boyfriend. Buffy is suspicious and asks a lot of questions about this new boyfriend's appearance and when Xander mentions that he has a long-out-of-style look, she runs off and Xander follows. Meanwhile, Willow is shyly hanging out with [[Thomas|a guy]]. She tells him that she is still a little troubled about the dead body, but he says that the boy got what he deserved for being alone in a secluded place with someone he barely knew. Willow turns to see that the guy has morphedintohisvampireface. He grabs her and bites her neck. Meanwhile, Buffy and Xander have arrived at the school and they follow Willow's screams.

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Buffy gives Xander her purse, saying he might need it, and then she charges in and tells the blond vampire biting Willow to get away from her. Buffy looks untroubled by the prospect of defeating the vampire, but then a bunch of other vampires appear, and Buffy gets nervous. She begins her attack, telling Xander and Willow to escape. Instead, Xander throws Buffy a broom that she canuseasa wooden stake, and then he rushes to help Willow. He is grabbed by the blonde woman vampire from the firstscene, and she starts biting him. Willow opens Buffy's purse and finds a large cross, which she uses to burn the vampire,seeminglykillingher (offscreen). Buffy dispatches the vampires,but when she announces she is the Slayer, one vampireruns away,thoughBuffydoes kill the blond vampire who had attacked Willow.

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Buffy gives Xander her purse, saying he might need it, and then she charges in and tells the vampire biting Willow to get away from her. Buffy looks untroubled by the prospect of defeating the vampire, but then a bunch of other vampires appear and she gets nervous. She begins her attack, telling Xander and Willow to escape. Xander then throws Buffy a broom that she usesinthefight, and then he rushes to help a dizzy Willow. Buffy gets to stake a vampire with the broom, who disappears into ashes. Xander is then grabbed by the vampire from the previousnight and she bites him. Willow notices a large [[cross]] in Buffy's purse, so she uses to burn the vampire untilsheboils. Buffy dispatches the vampires then announces she is the Slayer, causing one ofthem to away.Itremainsonly the vampire who had attacked Willow, who Buffy finally kills. The three now resting, Willow apologizes for all the turmoil, and Buffy explains it's actually a matter of destiny. Xander then asks: "So, what does a vampire slayer do exactly?"

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The next morning, Giles is unimpressed by Buffy's fighting and that she allowed others to find out her secret identity, but Xander and Willow defend her and Buffy is rather unperturbed. "Don't sweat it. The world's in beauty hands. Trust me," she says and she throws a stake into the heart of a Nosferatu poster nearby.

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The next morning, Giles is unimpressed by Buffy's fighting and that she allowed others to find out her secret identity, but Xander and Willow defend her and Buffy is rather unperturbed. "Don't sweat it. The world's in beauty hands. Trust me," she says,then throws a stake into the heart of a ''Nosferatu'' poster nearby.

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==Continuity==

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*The school is called Berryman High School. In the series, it was renamed Sunnydale High. The school's team is the Bulls, not the [[Sunnydale Razorbacks|Razorbacks]] like in the series.

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*Harmony mentions that Dingoes Ate My Baby are playing. The band (including guitarist [[Daniel Osbourne|Oz]]) would not make an appearance until the second season ("[[Inca Mummy Girl]]").

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*Buffy appears as a brunette, but she is consistently blonde in the series.

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*The library demonstrates the largest alteration in scenery between the unaired pilot and the show.

==Appearances==

==Appearances==

Line 37:

Line 38:

*[[Angel]] <small>(Only in deleted scene)</small>

*[[Angel]] <small>(Only in deleted scene)</small>

*[[Aphrodesia]]

*[[Aphrodesia]]

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*[[Aura]]

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*[[Aura (Sunnydale)|Aura]]

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*Mr. Barnes {{Om}}

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*Barnes {{Om}}

*[[Blue]] {{Om}}

*[[Blue]] {{Om}}

*[[Chris Boal]]

*[[Chris Boal]]

*[[Cordelia Chase]]

*[[Cordelia Chase]]

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*[[Unidentified Cordette (The Wish)|Unidentified Cordette]]

*[[Darla]]

*[[Darla]]

*[[Robert Flutie]]

*[[Robert Flutie]]

*[[Rupert Giles]]

*[[Rupert Giles]]

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*[[Xander Harris]]

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*[[Alexander Harris]]

*[[Harmony Kendall]]

*[[Harmony Kendall]]

*[[Jonathan Levinson]]

*[[Jonathan Levinson]]

*[[Willow Rosenberg]]

*[[Willow Rosenberg]]

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*[[Buffy Summers]]

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*[[Buffy Summers]]

*[[Thomas]]

*[[Thomas]]

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*Mr. Worth {{Om}}

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*Worth {{Om}}

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*Agirlintothe locker

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*[[UnidentifiedCordette(TheWish)]]

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*Aguytalk with Cordelia in garden on school

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===Organizationsandtitles===

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*Vampire 1

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*Vampire 2

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===Organizations and Titles===

*Cineclub

*Cineclub

*[[Cordettes]]

*[[Cordettes]]

*Dirty Girls

*Dirty Girls

*Housers

*Housers

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*Panga Inbreeds

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*Topanga Inbreeds

*Scenic Group

*Scenic Group

*[[Scooby Gang]]

*[[Scooby Gang]]

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*[[Slayer]]

*Wannabes

*Wannabes

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*[[Watcher]]

===Species===

===Species===

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*[[Ghoul]] {{Om}}

*[[Human]]

*[[Human]]

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*[[Incubus]] {{Om}}

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*[[Succubus]] {{Om}}

*[[Vampire]]

*[[Vampire]]

*[[Werewolf]] {{Om}}

*[[Werewolf]] {{Om}}

*[[Zombie]] {{Om}}

*[[Zombie]] {{Om}}

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*[[Ghoul]] {{Om}}

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*[[Incubus]] {{Om}}

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*[[Succubus]] {{Om}}

===Locations===

===Locations===

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*[[Los Angeles]], USA {{Om}}

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*Los Angeles {{Om}}

**[[Hemery High School]] {{Om}}

**[[Hemery High School]] {{Om}}

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*[[Sunnydale]], USA

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*[[Sunnydale]]

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**[[The Bronze]]

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**[[Bronze]]

**[[Sunnydale High School|Berryman High School]]

**[[Sunnydale High School|Berryman High School]]

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***[[Sunnydale High School library|Berryman High School library]]

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***[[Sunnydale High School library|Berryman High School library]]

***Berryman High School lockers

***Berryman High School lockers

***Berryman High School theatre

***Berryman High School theatre

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===Weaponsand Objects===

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*Topanga{{Om}}

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===Weapons and objects===

*[[Cross]]

*[[Cross]]

*[[Stake]]

*[[Stake]]

*''[[Vampyr]]''

*''[[Vampyr]]''

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*Squeegee floor

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*Drum sounds

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==Behindthe Scenes==

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==Deathcount==

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*Chris Boal, drained by Darla.

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*Unidentified vampire, staked by Buffy.

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*Darla, burned by Willow.

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*Thomas, killed by Buffy (only mentioned).

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==Behind the scenes==

===Production===

===Production===

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*Whedonwasaskedby''IGNFilmForce''inJune2003 about the unairedpresentation:

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*Thepilotiswithoutanopeningthemeandsimplyrenders the title in a differentfont.

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::IGNFF:''Is the presentationevergoingtomakeittoDVD?''

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*Theway in which the vampiresdusted differ with thecanonicalseriesintermsofeffects.

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::WHEDON:''Notwhilethereisstrength in thesebones.''

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*Actors [[Riff Regan]] and [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0864997StephenTobolowsky]werereplacedby [[Alyson Hannigan]] and [[Ken Lerner]] in the series, in their respective roles as Willow andFlutie.

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::IGNFF:''Well,Imean,it'soneofthemostheavilybootleggedthings on the Internet.''

*A scene with David Boreanaz was filmed for the Pilot, but the scene was deleted and his name was not included in the credits. The scene is similar to the aired episode "Welcome ToThe Hellmouth":

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*A scene with [[David Boreanaz]] was filmed for the pilot, but the scene was deleted and his name was not included in the credits. The scene is similar to the aired debut episode "[[Welcome tothe Hellmouth]]":

*The pilot is without an opening theme and simply renders the title in a different font.

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*The first scene is almost unchanged in the first episode of the series ("Welcome to the Hellmouth"), and it is a parody of common high school scenes in which it is a cute blonde girl who is threatened by a hulking guy jock.

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*The school is called Berryman High School. In the series, it was renamed Sunnydale High. The school's team is the Bulls, not the Razorbacks like in the series.

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*A scene where a strange man ([[Angel]]) gives Buffy a silver cross was the only deleted scene in the pilot.

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*Harmony mentions that [[Dingoes Ate My Baby]] are playing. The band (including guitarist [[Daniel Osbourne|Oz]]) would not make an appearance until the second season ("[[Inca Mummy Girl]]").

*Mercedes McNab appears in the unaired pilot as Harmony, and is the only cast member from it who would also appear in [[Not Fade Away|the series finale]] of ''[[Angel (series)|Angel]]'' making her the longest serving character in the Buffyverse, introduced prior to Angel, and continuing to appear on screen after Buffy Summers.

*Mercedes McNab appears in the unaired pilot as Harmony, and is the only cast member from it who would also appear in [[Not Fade Away|the series finale]] of ''[[Angel (series)|Angel]]'' making her the longest serving character in the Buffyverse, introduced prior to Angel, and continuing to appear on screen after Buffy Summers.

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*[[Darla]], as played by [[Julie Benz]], also makes her first appearance here, in the opening sequence that almost exactly mirrors the opening of "[[Welcome to the Hellmouth]]." (The character is unnamed in this pilot, though, and appears to be killed later in the Pilot.) Darla would appear as late as the episode "[[The Girl in Question]]," the third-to-last episode of ''[[Angel (series)|Angel]]'', making her another one of the Buffyverse's longest running characters.

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*A boy in line at the Bronze asks Buffy, "Are you the new girl?" is played by [[Danny Strong]], who appeared in many episodes as [[Jonathan Levinson]].

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*Buffy is brunette (which is Sarah Michelle Gellar's natural color) in the pilot, but she is blonde in the series.

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*The Library demonstrates the largest alteration in scenery between the unaired pilot and the show.

*The background music used when [[Buffy Summers|Buffy]] is shown the ''Vampyr'' book for the first time by [[Rupert Giles|Giles]] is never used again in the series, but was used in the season premier of the fourth season of ''Charmed'' as well as several episodes of its fifth season.

*The background music used when [[Buffy Summers|Buffy]] is shown the ''Vampyr'' book for the first time by [[Rupert Giles|Giles]] is never used again in the series, but was used in the season premier of the fourth season of ''Charmed'' as well as several episodes of its fifth season.

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*Clips from the pilot were included in [[History of the Slayer]].

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*The way in which the vampires dusted differ with the canonical series in terms of effects.

Contents

A tough guy breaks a window and sneaks into a high school at night, leading a girl by the hand. He takes her to the darkened, secluded auditorium in Berryman High School. They start to make out, until she becomes frightened, but he assures her that they're alone. He approaches her, but then she morphs into her vampire face and bites his neck.

In the next morning, it is a new school day and Buffy is being shown around her new school by Principal Flutie. As he does so, he calls her by different names, none of which are her own. Buffy assures Flutie that there won't be any problems like at her old school and she is "Here to have fun. But I mean learning, fun with learning." Flutie tells Buffy not to worry, he thinks she will fit in just fine.

Meanwhile, Xander and Willow talk, and he asks her to help him with his homework; Willow agrees after being promised the reward of a shiny nickel. A jock asks Cordelia out to the Bronze and she declines him. Her companion, Harmony, confirms that they're still going. Cordelia asks who is playing that night and Harmony tells her it's Dingoes Ate My Baby. Cordelia surveys the group of her fellow students and mocks them one by one, until Xander interrupts. Cordelia ridicules him and leave, just as Buffy, looking through her bag and not paying attention to where she is going, bumps into Xander, causing her to drop her things. She gathers what she has dropped as Xander apologizes, and she asks him where the library is. He helps her out but when she leaves, he notices she has forgotten a sharpened wooden stake.

The library is deserted and Buffy turns to leave, but bumps into Giles. She starts to ask him for some school books she needs, but Giles cuts her short and says he has what's she is looking for, and places a large book in front of her entitled Vampyr. Disturbed, Buffy tells Giles that's not whats she's looking for and hurries out, leaving a confused Giles behind. Buffy goes to class, but instead of paying attention, seems troubled by what had happened in the library.

The bell rings and Willow introduces herself to Buffy, offering, by request of Mr. Barnes, that she help Buffy get caught up. Willow is a bit unsure of herself when talking to Buffy but Buffy accepts her offer. While walking with Willow, Buffy asks about Giles. Willow tells her that he started a couple weeks ago, when Cordelia, Harmony and a Cordette appear before them. Cordelia introduces herself as the welcoming committee and maneuvers Buffy away from Willow to join her group of friends. Meanwhile, Aphrodesia and Aura talk about Buffy in the girls' locker room. As Aphrodesia rants on about how Buffy got kicked out of her old school due to some kind of delinquent behavior, the body of the boy killed the previous night falls out of her locker onto Aphrodesia, making her go into a screaming fit.

Xander finds Buffy to return her stake and gives her a tour of the school and its cliques. Willow finds them and tells them about the dead body, causing Buffy to run off and find Principal Flutie. The rattled principal apologies for such events on her first day of school and asks if there's anything he can do, so Buffy asks to see the body. She sees two holes in the neck and she heads for the library. Giles is not surprised by the news, but instead that Buffy wants nothing to do with being a Slayer. She explains that being the Slayer is why she lost everything she valued. Xander overhears the conversation.

That night, Buffy meets Xander outside the Bronze and he tells her that Willow isn't there because she's at school with a new boyfriend. Buffy is suspicious and asks a lot of questions about this new boyfriend's appearance and when Xander mentions that he has a long-out-of-style look, she runs off and Xander follows. Meanwhile, Willow is shyly hanging out with a guy. She tells him that she is still a little troubled about the dead body, but he says that the boy got what he deserved for being alone in a secluded place with someone he barely knew. Willow turns to see that the guy has morphed into his vampire face. He grabs her and bites her neck. Meanwhile, Buffy and Xander have arrived at the school and they follow Willow's screams.

Buffy gives Xander her purse, saying he might need it, and then she charges in and tells the vampire biting Willow to get away from her. Buffy looks untroubled by the prospect of defeating the vampire, but then a bunch of other vampires appear and she gets nervous. She begins her attack, telling Xander and Willow to escape. Xander then throws Buffy a broom that she uses in the fight, and then he rushes to help a dizzy Willow. Buffy gets to stake a vampire with the broom, who disappears into ashes. Xander is then grabbed by the vampire from the previous night and she bites him. Willow notices a large cross in Buffy's purse, so she uses to burn the vampire until she boils. Buffy dispatches the vampires then announces she is the Slayer, causing one of them to away. It remains only the vampire who had attacked Willow, who Buffy finally kills. The three now resting, Willow apologizes for all the turmoil, and Buffy explains it's actually a matter of destiny. Xander then asks: "So, what does a vampire slayer do exactly?"

The next morning, Giles is unimpressed by Buffy's fighting and that she allowed others to find out her secret identity, but Xander and Willow defend her and Buffy is rather unperturbed. "Don't sweat it. The world's in beauty hands. Trust me," she says, then throws a stake into the heart of a Nosferatu poster nearby.

A scene with David Boreanaz was filmed for the pilot, but the scene was deleted and his name was not included in the credits. The scene is similar to the aired debut episode "Welcome to the Hellmouth":

Mercedes McNab appears in the unaired pilot as Harmony, and is the only cast member from it who would also appear in the series finale of Angel making her the longest serving character in the Buffyverse, introduced prior to Angel, and continuing to appear on screen after Buffy Summers.

The background music used when Buffy is shown the Vampyr book for the first time by Giles is never used again in the series, but was used in the season premier of the fourth season of Charmed as well as several episodes of its fifth season.